Coin freed time controlling mechanism for valves and electric switches



Oct. 24, 1933. N HUDSON 1,932,314

COIN FREED TIME CORTROLLINGMECHANISM FOR VALVES AND ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed May 10, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 24, 1933. HUDSON 1,932,314

COIN F'REED TIME CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VALVES AND ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed May 10, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WR/VEY Oct. 24, 1933.

COIN FREED TIME CONTROLLINQ MECHANISM FOR VALVES AND ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed May 10, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 N. HUDSON 1,932,314

Oct. 24, 1933. HUDSQN 1,932,314

COIN FREED TIME CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VALVES AND ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed May 10, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Noe/v9 //u06 006 FDR), y

INVENT'OK? Patented Oct. 24, 1933 unis STATES com FREED TIME CONTROLLING MECHA NISM FOR VALVES AND ELECTRIC Norman" Hudson, Ravensthorpe', England I Application May 1933, Serial No. 670,371,- and in Great Britain February 29,. 1932 9 Claims. (Cl. 1S490) This invention relates to a mechanism designed to permit the flow of a commodity '(e. g. gas, water or electricity) for a predetermined time on payment of a set charge irrespective of the actual 5 ainount'oi the commodity consumed. For recording or registering the actual consumption a separate meter would be employed, this forming no part or" the present invention which is intended for use purely as a coin-collecting instrument based on a time tariii, rental charge or other flat rate. The apparatus is thus distinguished from known appliances such as sometimes incorporated in electricity meters where time and con sumption charges are integrated by differential and other gears in the one apparatus. Each setting of the present apparatus gives a constant unvaried predetermined period of time during which supply is made available no matter what quantity of the commodity is being consumed.

The apparatus according to the present invention embodies a clockwork unit for interrupting the flow of the commodity at the end of a predetermined period, said clockwork unit being of the spi 1g motor type requiring re-winding at the end of the period; the act of re-winding in ooo oration with a coin is employed to re-establish of the commodity.

Various ways of ensuring the collection of a coin as a necessary adjunct for resetting and reestablishing the supply are within the scope of the invention. For example, the coin may be used relea e the clockwork winding gear to permit to be zound, in which case suitable provision will be .naole whereby the act of winding operates the valve or switch as well as energizing the clockwork mainspring or inainsprings. In another method more particularly described later) the clockwork mechanism is left free for rewinding at any time, the coin being used as an abutment member whose introduction is necessary to permit the manual operation of the valve or switch (so as to re-set for a further supply). This latter method is preferablyapplied in such a manner that the operation is the concluding movement of the clockwork winding operation, thus the clockwork must be rewound to a prede-Le Cl degree prior to the reestablishment of supply of the commodity. In any event iere will always be a definite mechanical connection between the clockwork winding gear and the valve opening or swi'tch operating gear to ensure that the clockwork is always sufficiently energized to eiiect a cut oif. 55 who present apparatus for the time operation of a valve or electric switch consists, in its broad-- est sense, of a spring clockwork adapted to close automatically a supply valve or operate an elec tric switch after a predetermined period of time (such for example as one week) constant for each 6-3 setting and entirely independent of the consumption of the commodity supplied, said clockwork being adapted to drive a tappet, gear or the like permanently in mechanical association with the valve orswitch operating gear, such as by a tappet or equivalent intermittently engaging a star wheel forming part of the valve or switch operating mechanism, means being provided whereby the valve may be opened or the switch reset in conjunction with an inserted coinby turning the winding arbor of the clockwork.

The invention also includes means for stopping the going action of the clockwork positively and automatically immediately it has performed its valve closing or switch operating actions, whilst means for imparting a starting impetus to a going part (e. g. the escapement mechanism) of the clockwork are also comprised in a preferable embodiment. It will also be seen that a novel way of coupling the winding gear to the valve or switch operating gear is set forth in the follow-' ing description wherein the whole clockwork movement is made bodily rotatable by turning the winding arbor at a certain juncture to load a spring for performing the valve or switch operating movements. A further object of the invention is to efiect the closure of the valve in a plurality of successive stages or gradually so as to give a warning and avoid a sudden cut-off of supply. 1

For the sake of brevity the word valve alone will be used in the following description and claims, but it is to be understood that the mechanism of the invention is applicable to the operation of an electric switch equally as well as to the 9 opening and closing of a gas or other valve, although certain of the refinements such as the gradual closing of the valve are useful only for valves. For an electric switch this latter feature might be replaced by the introduction of means to operate preliminarily a flicker, dimming 01' equivalent device to give warning that the time covered by the inserted coin is about to elapse. The closing of a valve would generally be equivalent to the breaking of an electrical circuit to cut off the supply of the commodity. Alternatively the circuit could be established by the switch as the corresponding action to valve closure, the current being utilized to operate a relay" or other device for cutting off the commodity supply.

From the foregoing description a general understanding of the nature and object of the invention will have been gained, and in order that the same will be more readily understood reference is directed to the following detailed description of an embodiment illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Where: 7

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the complete apparatus, with the front cover plate and winding knob removed for clearness;

Figure 2 is a plan view, the outer box being shown in section horizontally through the middle of Figure 1;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are views of the mechanism similar to Figure 1 with theface plate, time dial, star wheel and cam removed, these three figures showing successive stages of the entrance of a coin into and its action in the coin pocket;

Figure 6 is a side view of the mechanism without the enclosing box, looking from the right of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a rear view looking from the right of Figure 6;

Figures 8 and 9 are a pair of views at rightangles to one another of a pivoted lever constituting one side of the coin pocket; and

Figures 10 and 11 are a similar pair of views of a pivoted lever constituting the other or valveoperating side of the coin pocket.

In the drawings A is the outer box enclosing the apparatus, which is covered by a front cover plate B adapted to be secured by a lock 0. The cover plate is formed with a hole through which the winding arbor l of the clockwork unit, indi cated as a whole by the letter D, may project, and also has a window E through which various indicating numerals on the front of the apparatus may be viewed. The outer box A is constructed with a valve chamber F housing the mushroom valve G. On top of the box A is any suitable form of coin chute H adapted to deliver a coin to the mouth or entrance of a coin pocket designated as a whole by the letter J.

The clockwork illustrated is provided with a going barrel 2 on the sleeve of which is frictionally gripped a time dial 3 adapted to be rotated once in twenty-four hours on an axis fixed relatively to the box A. The face plate 4 of the clockwork is extended to one side and (see Figures 1, 2 and 6) carriesa star wheel 5 adapted to be moved around step by step by a stop 6, or a tappet, projection or equivalent secured adjustably or otherwise to the time dial 3. The star wheel preferably has seven points whereby it is rotated a seventh of a revolution for each single revolution of the time dial, whereby its movement is in seven daily steps making a complete revolution weekly.

Fixedly rotating with the star wheel 5 is a cam 7 which governs the position of the valve release gear. Generally speaking, the latter consists of the whole coin pocket mechanism J coacting with the bell crank lever and the valve spindle as described later, but the actual operating element I is the component of the coin pocket which direct- 1y engages the cam, and this is separately shown in Figures 10 and 11.

The coin pocket comprises a pair of independently movable sides shown detached in Figures 8 and 9 and Figures 10 and 11 respectively, which are pivotally mounted so as to open apart and close together. The assembled position and cooperation of these elements is more clearly seen in Figures 3, 4 and 5. One side 8 is pivoted by a pair of right-angular lugs 9 to a bottom spacing spindle 10 extending from the face plate 4 to the rear frame plate 11, and its upper portion 12 forms one side proper of the coin pocket J. The side 12 is formed with a front wing 13 to support one face of a coin. This member 8 is provided with a lug 14 whereby it is connected with the body of the clockwork by the link 15. This side 12 may therefore be pulled back into the position shown in Figure l by the link 15. The other component of the coin pocket (Figures 10 and 11) has a side proper 16 and a back wing 17 to support the other face of the coin, and the body thereof indicated by the numeral 18 carries an upper arm 19, in addition to a pair of right anguiar lugs 20 by which it pivots on the spindle 21 bridging the face plate 4 and. the back frame 2. The body 18 may be furnished with an adjustable pallet 23 to raise the surface of the side 16 so as to adapt the coin pocket for use with different diameter coins. The said body 18 also has a rightangularly turned finger 24 which passes through a hole in theiace plate a to bear against the aforesaid star wheel cam l. The pocket component illustrated in Figures 19 and 11 can therefore swing about its pivot 21 to assume either the closed position indicated in Figures 3 and l or the open position depicted in Figure 5. In the first position the valve is closed as explained later, and in the second position the valve is opened or reset. This pocket cor ponent also carries fixedly (and adjustably at 25) a down-- wardly extending arm 32 adapted to apply a brake to the clockwork or to impart a starting impetus thereto in the manner hereinafter de scribcd. A coin may therefore be set in the pocket with its periphery engaging the sides 12 and and its flat faces supported by the wings l3 and 17.

The valve operation is effected by means of the arm 19 aforesaid which is adapted to press one arm 2'! of a bell crank, pivoted at 28 (Figure 6), the other 29 of which (Figures 6 and 7) ex tends downwardly and forms an abutment for the end of spindle 30 of the valve This is spring-pressed into the closed position shown in Figure and adapted to be opened against r straint of the spring 31 when the e pressed down (Figure fifthrowing or. 29 of the tacit-crank.

It is advantageous to provide cans for positively and automatically stopping the ng action of the clockwork e iiately it formed its valve closing action, and to starting impetus to the same reset instance, if the clock were'allowed to run on to a period of approximately twenty-four hours (which it would do according to the embodiment herein set forth) after closing the valve, that amount of time would be lost from the next period after resetting.

Again, the time the valve ij has been open would be incorrectly indicated by any figures appiied to the time dial. it also extremely desirable to embody a starter on'a clock of the nature employed, because if escapement should not be most carefully adjusted operating pocket component is provided with a downwardly extending leg 32 adapted to engage the pin 33 of a brake lever 34 pivoted on a spindle 35. This is more clearly seen in Figures 3, 4 and 5. When the member 18 and its leg 32 has been moved into the valve closing position (Fig tires 3 and 4) the brake lever 34 isswung on its pivot to operatean escapement brake;. when the member 18 is returned to its valve-open position a light spring 36 attached thereto presses on the stop 33 and returns and holds the lever 34 in a position releasing the brake.

The brake comprises a link 3'7 pivoted to the upper extremity of the lever 34 and carrying a reciprocal bar 38 pivoted thereto at 39, and said bar 38 has a small brake spring 40 (Figure 2) adapted to engage the balance wheel 41 of the clockwork escapement. On valve closing, the lever 34 moves to the left as in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and the brake spring 40 .presses on the balance wheel 41 and thus stops the clockwork mechanism. On resetting, the spring 40 moves away to the right with reference to Figure 2 and byv lightly brushing the wheel 41 it gives it a starting impetus.

Referring now to the connection between the winding mechanism and the resetting arrangements, the bodily rotation of the clockwork D as a complete unit about the axis of the winding arbor is utilized to bring about the various necessary mechanical movements, in conjunction with a coin inserted in the chute H. The clock- Work. unit is supported between the face plate 4 and the back plate 11 by the going barrel sleeve 44 at the front and the rear termination of the jwinding arbor 1 atthe back, these points being co-aXial and acting as trunnions. After forming its journal in the back plate 11, the winding arbor is squared at 45 to receive a ratchet wheel 46 having a function described later.

The clockwork unit can thus perform a small partial rotation when a turning movement is applied to the winding arbor by the operating knob 47. This movement, however, is normally restrained by the spring 48 (Figures 2 and '7),

- so that rotation of the knob 47 will serve only to wind and energize the mainspring of the clockwork, the winding arbor 1 turning relatively to the clockwork unit. When the mainspring has been put under a predetermined winding torsion,

.;,I.: the resistance of the restraining spring 48 is overcome, the mainspring will no longer yield and the clockwork unit will move bodily until brought up by a suitable stop. To avoid the possibility of further turns being imparted to the jmainspring at this juncture, the winding arbor 1 of the clockwork is provided with means to lock it solidly with the clockwork casing or framework when the predetermined amount of mainspring winding has been effected. For this purpose (see Figure '7) the clockwork casing or framework is provided with a pawl 49 normally held off of the ratchet wheel 46 and the fixed supporting back plate 11 is provided with aprojection 50 adapted to push the pawl into engagement with the ratchet when the pawl moves around with the clockwork unit D, i. e. anticlockwise with respect to Figure '7. The said projection 50 is advantageously formed with a cam edge at 51coacting with the edge of the pawl 49 to effect the foregoing movement, whilst said projecting member 50 may be yieldably mounted such as by forming it on one limb of a bell crank, the other limb 52 being anchored by the spring 53 to the back plate 11.

The clockwork unit is attached to the coin pocket member 3 by means of the link 15 aforesaid, and consequently the partial rotation of the clockwork unit will pull the pocket member 8 and cant it about its pivot into the position seen in Figure 4. When the winding knob 47 is released, the spring 48, which has become loaded by the rotation of the clockwork unit, will cause the return of the unit to its normal posi--.

If there is no coin'54 in position as dotted in Fig ure 4, then the movement of the pocket side 8 will be idle, and the valve will remain closed.

, The action of the cam 7 and its co-operation with the valve operating gear through the medium of the aforesaid finger 24 will now be described. The valve operating pocket component shown in Figures 10-11 normally tends to assume the valve closed position (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4) under the action of a coil spring 42- Figure 2 in conjunction with the valve spring 31 acting through the bell crank 27, 29. Referring to Figure 1 it will be observed that the earn '7 has a deep step 43 permitting the finger 24 to move to its limit to close the valve (or allow the valve to close under its own spring action). When re-setting by means of the winding knob 47 as described earlier herein, the valve operating side of the coin pocket (Figures 10 and 11) is pushed back and held in the reset position by the coin 54 which is firmly gripped by its periphery between the pocket sides 12 and 16. The finger 24 is thus moved away from the cam step 43 to the right of the "position shown in Figure 1, the going part of the clockwork has been started as hereinbefore described, and the cam '7 is eventually given its first daily step anti-clockwise in relation to Figure 1. The cam has an edge 55 at its largest radius which first comes into action on the finger 24, and this serves to open the coin pocket gradually to a slightly wider degree sufficient to cause the coin to drop out, and the valve is then held open by the cam '7; that is to say the cam first relieves the coin of the thrust of the springs 42 and 31, and then itself takes up the thrust by holding the finger 24 on its edge 55. The succeeding step of the cam 7 allows the finger 24 to move inwards slightly on to the concentric portion 56.0f the edge. This does not affect the valve-open position, but enables a second coin to repose in the pocket (should one be inserted before the valve automatically shuts). The concentric edge portion 56 is effective for the major part of the time period during which the cam is moved around step by step. When plane on the cam to effect the gradual closure.

Thus the supply of the commodity is cut off gradually inasmuch as the valve is'permitted to close slowly. With gas as the commodity this will give a visible indication of the approaching closing of valve and termination of the prearranged time period by the dimming of the burner flames, the last stage,"prior to the step 43, serving, if required, to provide just suflicient gas for a pilot light or lights. 1

It is to be noted that the application of the brake 40 to the going part of the clockwork is held in reserve until the actual point of valve closure, because (see Figure 5) the spring 36 is flexed against the stop 33 until the arm 32 has travelled (according to the'gradual closure steps) to its full valve closing position whereupon it makes solid contact with the said stop 33, the last stage, step 5'7 to 43 on cam 7, moving the brake lever 34 into the position depicted in Figures 3 and 4.

The number of times the apparatus has been reset may be indicated. (mainly for the use of an inspector authorized to open the cover B) through,

the window 58, Figure 1, by numerals on the back of a contrate wheel 59, see also Figures 2 and 7, which is arranged to be advanced one step after a predetermined number of revolutions of the going barrel 2, the latter being provided with a spiral strip 60 (Figures 25) meshing with the teeth of the contrate wheel 59.

The time dial 3 may be marked with figures representing hours, and the star wheel with figures representing days whereby the amount of the prepaid time period either expended or unexpired as may be preferred will be indicated to the consumer through the window E.

It is to be understood that with slight adjustments (for example varying the connection between the arm 19 of the coin pocket and the valve) any form of valve other than a lift valve may be operated by the mechanism.

Operation To summarize the operation of the apparatus illustrated, it will be assumed that the clockwork has been running and has closed the valve G, bringing the parts to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. To reset the apparatus, a coin 54 is inserted in the chute H, and this comes to rest on top of the coin pocket at the entrance thereto as shown in Fig. '3. The clockwork is now wound up by the knob er of the winding arbor 1, and no matter how much mainspring energy has been expended, the winding will cease and the clockwork unit will rotate bodily when the requisite predetermined winding torsion has been applied. This opens the coin pocket into the Figure 4 position, and the coin 54 drops into the pocket illustrated; when the knob 47 is released the valveoperating component of the pocket is moved by the spring 48 as the clockwork unit rotates reversely, bringing the parts to the Figure -5 position. The valve is now open and the apparatus reset for a further prepaid time period. As mentioned, if no coin has been inserted, the movement of member 8 of the coin pocket is idle, and the valve G remains closed.

The time dial 3 now rotates and in turn rotates the star wheel 5 and its earn 7 step by step. This first releases the coin and then eventually, at the end of one complete revolution of the cam 7,, again brings the members back into the valveclosed position as shown in Figures 1 and 2. If in the interim another coin has been inserted, the finger 24 will not drop off at the completion of the cycle, but will be held by the reserve coin, and thus the cycle will recommence.

I claim:-

1. Mechanism. of the character described comprising, in combination, a control member for a flowing commodity, yieldable means constantly tending to move said member to a position to prevent flow'of the commodity, a spring motor inicluding a casing mounted for limited rotation,

yieldable means constantly tending to rotate said casing to its limit of movement in a direction counter tothe direction of winding of the motor spring, coin controlled means between the motor and said control member operable to a coin receiving position by rotation of the motor casing in response to winding force exerted on the motor spring after said spring has been completely wound and operable by reverse rotation of the motor casing under the influence of said yieldable means when the winding force on the motor spring is released and when a coin is disposed in said coin control means to move said control member to a position to permit flow of the commodity, and means operable by said motor after the elapse of a predetermined period of time to actuate said coin control means to release the coin therefrom and to restore said coin control means to a position in which the commodity control member is released for movement by its yieldable means to a position to stop flow of the commodity.

2. Mechanism as set forth in claim 1 including means operable in response to rotation of the motor casing imparted thereto by winding of the motor to impart a starting impulse to the motor mechanism.

3. Mechanism as set forth in claim 1 including means operable in response to restoration of the coin controlled means to its normal position to positively stop operation of the motor, and also operable in response to subsequent rotation of the motor casing when the motor is wound to impart a starting impulse to the motor mechanism.

4. Mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which the winding arbor of ti e spring motor is provided 110 with a ratchet wheel, in which the motor casing carries a pawl for cooperation with said ratchet wheel, and in which an element carried by a fixed part of the mechanism is positioned to cause engagement of the pawl with the ratchet wheel 115 when rotation is imparted to the motor casing by winding of the motor, thereby to prevent winding of the motor beyond a predetermined amount.

5. Mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in'which the coin controlled means comprise two members 120 each movable towards and away from the other and cooperating to form a coin pocket therebetween, one of said members being connected to the motor casing for movement away from the other member under the influence of rotation imparted to the motor casing by winding of the motor and for movement towards the other member by reverse rotation of the motor casing, the other member having an operative connection with the commodity control member, and yieldable means constantly tending to move the second mentioned member towards the first mentioned member and to release the commodity control member for movement by its yieldable means to a position to stop flow of the commodity.

'6. Mechanism as set forth in claim .1 in which cam means operable by the spring motor are provided to release the commodity control member after a predetermined period of operation of the spring motor.

'7. Mechanism as set forth in claim 1 including means to gradually move the commodity control element to a position to stop flow of the commodity as the predetermined period of time of operation of the spring motor is about to elapse. 145

8. Mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which cam means operable by the spring motor are provided to maintain the commodity control member in a position permitting flow of the commodity after the control member has been moved to said a operable upon release of said force through a coin operatively engaged with said coin controlled means to move said control member to a position to permit flow of the commodity, and means operable by said motor after the lapse of a predetermined period of time to actuate said control means to release the coin therefrom and to restore said control means to a position in which the commodity control member is released for movement by its yieldable means to a position to stop flow of the commodity.

' NORMAN HUDSON. 

